8 tips for stress-free travel this Christmas

Hitting the skies this festive season? Follow these simple tips to take the stress out of travelling.

1. Passports at the ready

Prepare all travel documents well in advance of your trip. Wherever in the world you’re visiting, it’s important to double-check what documentation is required on arrival.

Make sure all passports and/or visas are in date. Don’t forget that children’s passports last up to five years only. Certain destinations require passports to be valid up to six months after scheduled departure dates. Read more.

2. Check in online

Time is precious before a flight. To make things as easy as possible, you can check in online from the comfort of your home or office using our website or mobile app. This means you can select seats together if you’re travelling with someone, or ensure you get that prized window seat. Save even more time at check-in by using our express bag drop service.

Did you know that you can check in online within 30 days of your departure date on all routes within Europe? Seat fees apply until 30 hours before scheduled departure time.

For transatlantic flights, you can check in online within 24 hours of your scheduled departure time. Check in now.

3. Lighten your load

Travelling with children? Check out the available options to rent buggies, cribs, baby seats, car seats and more when you arrive. This will make it easier for you travelling through the airport – and lighten your load!

4. Check your carry-on luggage

Take the time to weigh and measure your carry-on bag before leaving for the airport. Avoid having to re-pack sensitive items in front of an audience at the airport. Take the time to weight and measure your carry-on baggage before leaving for the airport. Check your cabin baggage limits.

5. Arrive early

We recommend arriving at the airport with sufficient time for check-in, bag drop and security screening, especially during the peak seasons and busy holiday periods. Christmas holidays can be a particularly busy time at the airport.

If you’re travelling within Europe we recommend arriving two hours prior to the scheduled departure time. For flights to North America, we recommend arriving three and half hours before take-off time. This will give you plenty of time for a stress-free airport experience.

6. Pre-pack your liquids

Get organised. Always pre-pack liquids of 100ml or less in a clear plastic zip-lock bag. Any liquids over 100ml should be packed in your checked bag or left at home. Take the simple steps to avoid setting off the scanner or having your cabin bag pulled aside because of a forgotten bottle of water!

7. Double-check the gate

Once you’ve cleared security check the screens for your boarding gate. It’s important to arrive at the boarding gate a few minutes before the stated boarding time. There are lots of places throughout the airport to enjoy a coffee – don’t leave yourself or your family with a last-minute dash to the gate!

8. Download a map

Part of the fun of travelling is getting lost and stumbling across hidden gems. For the other times, we recommend downloading a map. If you’re flying somewhere the internet is slow, mobile data is expensive, or you can’t get online, you can save an area from Google Maps to your phone or tablet and use it when you’re offline.